Saturday, August 16, 2008

It’s 12:23 A.M and I just got back from a 7 mile run with 2 friends (1 of which I just met this evening.) Lately I have found myself drifting off while at work or play thinking about when I can get a run and some decent solitude in. It seems that getting off the couch and pounding out a few miles is exactly what my soul has been craving.

This series of Blogs in general are to document my life as a new artist and the trials and pleasures that ensue. But early this A.M I can’t help but document a deeper yearning. I want to LIVE. I want to get out when I should be sleeping and sweat alongside a few comrades. I want to get over the feeling of failing or succeeding in the music world and get whipped into submission. I feel the closest to Christ while going out for a run. It’s seems that running in the early hours of morning or later at night is the only real option when you have a family and conflicting hobbies☺

I think after having my first record out for a few months and getting ready to go back out on tour I find myself desperately seeking clarity. How do you remain a faithful husband and father while building a ministry and broadening a fan base? I don’t know. I do know that with every pounding heartbeat, deep breath and lack of words I am finding peace in the struggle. Mixing the joys and frustrations of music with the welcomed pain of building endurance and stamina is a delightful cocktail.

It’s 1:05 A.M and I am thankful. My legs and feet hurt. I’m hungry. But more importantly I’m writing and I am sharing instead of sleeping. I love to sleep and unfortunately I sleep too much. Not tonight.

After meeting my new friend Sean tonight I felt like I knew him better after our run. It was only 6 months earlier I drove past a crazy looking man running bare foot with no shirt who looked just like Jesus or at least the Jesus in my mind. Tonight, God blessed me with a new friend and it came by getting out my comfort. Sean is the guy you throw drinks at while driving by and call crazy because he has long hair, beard and runs bare foot. After tonight I want to take my shoes off and get nailed in the back of the head with your Wendy’s Frosty. I’m all in. I’m reminded of paragraph of one of my favorite books:

“Most Dreams die a slow death. They’re conceived in a moment of passion, with the prospect of endless possibility, but often languish and not pursued with the same heartfelt intensity as when first born. Slowly, subtly, a dream becomes elusive and ephemeral. People who’ve let their own dreams die become pessimists and cynics. They feel that the time and devotion spent on chasing their dreams were wasted. The emotional scars last forever. “It can’t be done,” they’ll say, when you describe your dream. “It’ll never happen.” Pg.139 Ultra Marathon Man, Dean Karnazes

Friday, July 25, 2008

It's a super weird feeling getting adjusted to any new way of life. Before becoming a recording artist on a label I had already been married 5 years, 1 toddler down and working a full-time grown up job. Next thing I knew I was traveling more and more playing music and winding up in some majorly surreal situations. It’s funny because most every artist I meet while out at these events I still feel more like a fan than a peer. When you are a newbie like me you spend most of your time trying to stay afloat than feeling like people should know who you are or care for that matter. That’s just where I am right now – a new artist and I’m very ok with it.

I just returned home from Seattle where I was involved with some label fun and hanging with some extended family. To be sipping a coffee in downtown Seattle in the morning and at home with your family in Florida the same day exhilarating. Oh yeah, before I forget I better mention that the dudes from Hawk Nelson, Run Kid Run and Cameron w/ Jaymes Reunion are all stellar individuals. I saw Christ in all of them at some point along the trip and nothing inspires me more than those moments.

This trip really hit home on how awesome it is to be able to enjoy God’s blessings in my life. I didn’t ask for any of this nor do I deserve it. Once again I was reminded that I can’t compete against these bands. Compliment yes but not compete. We are all in this together and when is unison we are a sweet blessing to Christ and each other.

After all my music obligations were complete I hooked up with my cousin and went cruising through Seattle on 2 sweet BMX bikes. It helps so much having an insider’s help on where to get the best coffee in Seattle and the worst BMX dirt beating. Somewhere along our trek my cousin thought it was a good idea to take me to this BMX Park under the interstate (MADE OUT OF RAW TIMBER)

If you are ever close to this particular interstate please for your own safety do NOT go under the interstate. If safety is not something you are looking for in this life than at least wear a suit of armor. While I was running over to see if my cousin was alive after flying over a huge dirt mountain head first it all became clear…

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

I am delighted to be here with you! There is no better time than now to share our hearts and encourage one another. When JFH came to me about writing here i couldn't wait to write. By the way, my name is Chris Taylor and i live in Destin, Fl where I was born and raised. I can't justify moving anytime soon. Part of my life right now consists of being a new artist signed to www.becrecordings.com and learning to live the life of a touring artist. Obviously, this is just part of who I am. I love to surf, run, play Didgeridoo (More than everything else!) and hang with my wife and daughter. I am currently working on dying.

I can't lie. Christ deserves everything. He deserves us to love Him and love our neighbors. He requires us to be vulnerable. I want to open a dialogue that encourages us here to be open with one another. To be humbled by Christ's matchless love. A few nights ago my night was ruined.

I was heading to a movie with a friend to have some mindless fun and then it happened. I get in his car and hear a voice coming from his speakers. Rich Mullins ruined my night. No longer was I going to enjoy a giant green guy running around acting like an incredible Hulk. Rich Mullins instantly stopped me in my tracks. It’s like my soul’s thirst was being quenched. I had been panting for life and didn’t even realize it. I didn’t need a movie to get my mind off my worries; I needed to hear a heart aching for God. It was real. You could hear it in his voice and I could feel it in my soul. A couple of my dear friends were talking and it’s clearly no coincidence that guys like Rich Mullins and Keith Green were taken from us early in their lives. These men had a backbone and stood for something. I’m just at a point in my life where I want to act out my faith.

Let’s use this blog as a place to encourage one another and grow in Christ. Feel free to comment and share your life. Be vulnerable.